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Andersons and Shore Street info

Andersons the Ironmongers photograph was taken in 1911. The building was built as the first Masonic Lodge. It was said to be the most modern building of its time during construction of the newly laid out Traill Street, part of Sir John Sinclair’s plan for the new town of Thurso. The foundation stone was laid in 1808 and the building opened in 1810. It was later used as the Town Hall for a period.

The Shore Street photograph was taken around 1912. In the distance you will see the horse and cart which has a huge load on it. The Turnpike has a date stone on it with 1686 and a marriage stone with the initials D.W.K.R. This means that someone with the initials D.W. married someone with the initials K.R. There are a few of them around the town, like at the corners of Jessie Allan’s shop etc (I know it has a new name but I have yet to re-program my brain to accept it!). Always worth looking up rather than straight ahead or down, it’s surprising what’s there is to be seen!

Bt the way, did you notice the signwriting to the left of the middle window advertising "ammunition" for sale. There is a door upstairs which has from memory "ammunition room" or "artillery room" painted on the door and its still there yet.

Thurso Castle

Attached below are two photographs of Thurso Castle. This is the 3rd castle which was built at Thurso East. And the forth to have been built in Thurso.
Work on the castle in the photo's below was carried out between 1874 and 1876 when the previous castle was renovated by Sir Tollemache Sinclair.

The tower was 8 floors and 100 feet high but the founds were made for taking an tower 40 feet high therefore it was never going to last. By 1914 the tower had already started to lean and it was evacuated. Then a sea mine was washed ashore exploding, blowing out some of the windows. Although it was thought no structural damage was done. The castle then had to be abandoned in 1951 and the roof was removed the following year.

Thirsa Shoppies!

Another two piccys from 1911. Attached are photographs of W & G Dunnet cycle shop (where Mac Mowat served his apprenticeship) later to become Dunnets Garage and just along the road a wee bit was the Victoria Hairdressing Saloon. If you look in the foreground of the photo in front of the group of people at the cycle shop you will see some of the Thurso fish baskets that was used by fisherwomen to sell the latest catch from.

Royal Hotel

Two piccys of the Royal Hotel. Built by Andrew Caskey when he noticed that Thurso was in need of a good coaching inn. The hotel had its own private well at the back, out of public view. I have been in to see it and although the well is no longer there you can still hear the water in the spring below the floor running past. In the same area is the old stables still intact and a flagstone table with a groove running around the outside edge where they would cut meat up and the blood would run into the groove and then into a bucket below. The hotel also had its own garden at the back where they grew their own veg for using.

If you look in the foreground of the photo in front of the group of people at the cycle shop you will see some of the Thurso fish baskets that was used by fisherwomen to sell the latest catch from.

I remember my granny saying that when her father bought fish from one of the fisherwoman with the baskets that they had to follow him back to his house. Once she got to the house, the woman was expected to clean and gut the fish for the customer. Quite different from shooping nowadays when we buy fish that has been filleted for us already.

Lindsays

Attached is a photograph of Lindsays which im sure many of you remember. This photograph was taken in 1910. The building was newly built replacing the much older single story building. If I remember I will take a look for the older shop and post it.

I remember my granny saying that when her father bought fish from one of the fisherwoman with the baskets that they had to follow him back to his house. Once she got to the house, the woman was expected to clean and gut the fish for the customer. Quite different from shooping nowadays when we buy fish that has been filleted for us already.

Aye that used to happen, The women used to sell the fish from the Meadow Well, Olrig Street, Town Hall Square, Royal Hotel Corner. Some of them, like my Great Granny used make her way to the "posh houses" in Princess Street, Campbell Street, Rose Street etc at the top of the town and sell them door to door.

Views of Thurso the west

Two views of Thurso, the one with the women in the foreground is around 1890 the other is around 1875. You will notice the women in the foreground are ready to collect water from the springs in the park. Hence the name Springpark!

yeh it was the mention of it being built as a masonic hall that sealed it for me, plus the facia hasn't changed much

Good call, my memory is too bad, I seem to remember Andersons being further down the street. What was Buttress's before that then, I seem to remember it being an Ironmongers?

Also is that picture of Lindsays did it become Nappy Sinclairs, it kind of looks like it with its multiple doorways? Either that or is it what became Soutars, the one at the top of the precint across from Cardosi's?

Good call, my memory is too bad, I seem to remember Andersons being further down the street. What was Buttress's before that then, I seem to remember it being an Ironmongers?

Also is that picture of Lindsays did it become Nappy Sinclairs, it kind of looks like it with its multiple doorways? Either that or is it what became Soutars, the one at the top of the precint across from Cardosi's?

Hi Jeemag!

Aye, it became Soutars but was recently bought over, but forgot what name it goes under. Far to recent a change for me!